Whale of a Sale

Last week I took a couple days off of work to set up a Stella & Dot booth at an Upscale Children's Consignment Sale.  I'd never done this sale before so I had no idea what to expect.  To top it off, I put some clothes in the sale myself so I had to drop those off the day before the sale. 

Let me tell you... this sale was HUGE! GINORMOUS! AMAZEBALLS!
It was held in about a 5500 square foot building on the Indiana State Fairgrounds.  If I remember correctly, they've had to relocate 3 of the 4 years they've done this sale.  There was just so much stuff!

When I first walked in to drop my measly 20-30 items off, the lady asked me if I needed a rolling cart and I kind of looked at her funny.  No... why would anyone need that?!  Well after I saw 3-5 women seriously make 10 trips back and forth from their cars to the loading/drop off dock, I knew why she asked me that!  I'm totally going to do it again!  I've already got a pile ready for the spring sale!

But seriously I made $50 really by doing nothing and all but 2 pieces of mine sold!  I mean, I couldn't have asked for a better first experience.  Aside from me freaking out because of all the rules posted online and giving myself a heart attack for stains, dog hair, hangars, and tagging it really went very smooth! 

Then I had my Stella & Dot booth set up which was fun.  While this is a great demographic for us people wise, moms with kids and stay at home moms, we do sometimes have a hard sell due to our price point.  While over half the line is under $50, at these types of events people are naturally drawn typically do the higher price points.  So we look at these type events as an opportunity to meet new people and still be sharing our name with all!  Overall it was very successful for us... A few sales, but hopefully a few trunk shows too!

And there were lots of other vendors there too!  All doing giveaways or advertising great deals! 

So, if you are every in Indianapolis either in March or September you should look up Whale of a Sale.  It's a great place to grab some play clothes, find a few toys for christmas gifts (lots new with tags), and then hop over to the vendor tables to shop for yourselves! 

xoxo,

Abby

Month Three Baby Must Haves

Right now, Ells is at the age where she's starting to want to move around and do stuff.  She's very good at rolling over now and occasionally she is too good... like last night when she rolled her self up against our coffee table.  Oops! No harm done... more of a scare.  But there are some things that really keep her occupied and happy.

(1)  Baby Soother App for iPhone -- I love this thing!  I'm not sure why, but it's great.  I think it was $1.99 and it has three different scenes and tons of songs.  It plays them and the babies are just mesmerized by it.  I guess you could compare it to Baby Einstein, but man am I not a fan of those!  If you haven't already, check it out.  Baby First is another app that I haven't gotten yet, but my friend swears by it! 

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(2) Baby Bjorn -- Ells loves anything where she moving.  I swear I could strap her in the Baby Bjorn and skate her around with me and she'd be in heaven.  Quite funny.  But seriously... now she can sit facing front because she can hold her head up.  She occasionally gets the front part all slobbery and sometimes falls asleep facing outward, but for the most part, this is a lifesaver (still).  Mr K still loves it too.

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(3) Baby Jogger -- Just like the baby bjorn, it's the movement and being outside that does a baby in.  Ells loves to be outside and I've just noticed that she's now looking around at the things outside - probably because she's usually sleeping as my run/walks are usually too boring for her.  But recently she's been more awake and more observant.  It's very cool to tell her what she's looking at and to also hopefully introduce her to an active lifestyle from an early age. Plus, it's gets me out and about.



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This is the system we have.

(4) Chillers... or Teethers -- Love these.  I think she likes them too.  I'm not totally sure on it yet, because I think the cold might be a bit much for her at the moment, but she seems to enjoy the chewiness of them against her gums.  Mr K put one in the freezer the other day and I about died laughing.  He didn't know, but then he said that Ells really hated it and I told him no wonder, she now had a brain freeze, frozen hands, and was trying to eat a rock! 



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(5)  Bumbo Seat -- It makes them feel like the rest of us.  It's also good for their core muscles.  They sit up just like little kiddos.  I don't know exactly what it is about the seat that lets them sit up, but Ells is not quite there yet and in this thing she's usually got a neck... we are enforcing good posture at this early age!  Just kidding!  But usually she's sitting up so tall that her little neck shows!  Plus, I hear this seat can be used instead of a high chair for a while.  Jackpot!

(6) Car Mirror -- I love being able to look at her while we are driving.  Plus, it should help with nuk placement when she's spit it out and is starting to get fussy at the beginning of our drive home.  A very simple thing, but a much loved one.

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(7) Pampers Swaddlers -- I think we are almost out of these... I think they might only go to size 2 and yes, my baby girl is almost into size 2.  We have decided to purchase these only at Sams because they really are a better deal there.  So, we bought 210 of size 1 and are pretty sure the next shopping trip will be size 2.  At least she's growing.  But we love them for their movement, their wetness indicator, and that she seems to be ok with them and we haven't had any issues. 

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(8)  Butt Paste -- What would we do without it?  We haven't really had to deal with any diaper rash except for a bit the size of a dime one time but it was butt paste to the rescue.  We slathered this stuff on that spot for a couple of days and it was gone!  Unreal.  You can put it on at one diaper change and see a difference the next!  Love this stuff.

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(9)  Rompers -- I love onesies too, but Rompers are just so cute and especially for the summer.  Ells has more clothes than one little girl needs for sure.  We have a couple different kinds.  Most are from Target because they are only like $7-8 a piece.  Some are from Tea Collection (my faves).  And others are from Carters.  I consider these all rompers:  Dress type shirt with diaper cover, one piece with almost shorts, and one piece with butt cover and skirt attached.  Maybe I'm wrong but these all go together in one drawer. 




(10)  Bedtime with the Beatles -- Still a love of mine.  Sometimes I'll turn it on in the car when no one else is in there.  I haven't tried it yet, but it would probably be a good thing for my lunchtime naps that happen every once in a while. It's very soothing and good music!  What more could you ask for?  It has a permanent spot in the CD player of my car.

So there's my must haves month three.  It's been quite a journey.  I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting, but if they are that important, then they will be around for months 4,5,6 right?

Restoration Hardware Kids

Where the heck have I been?

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Better start learning how to really use my sewing machine because I see this in my very near future!

It looks so magical!  It's your own Never Never Land!

And if this Giraffe weren't so dog gone expensive it would definitely find it's way into my house!

If for no other reason than to baffle Lex and Lou.



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Anyone find anything at Restoration Hardware for baby and child.

Monday's with Martha - Baby Showers

Good Monday Morning Blog Hogs! 

I hope you had a lovely weekend!  I spent mine (Sat) at the Wine Fest & (Sun) in bed with a headache and stomach ache... and while you may be thinking it was what some might call a hangover on Sunday, it wasn't.  I had not one drop of vino.... so sad.  But it was 90+ degrees and I felt water was a better thing to be drinking on such a hot day.  Maybe my headache and stomach ache came from not drinking the vino!??  Hmmm...

Anyways, time for another Monday with Martha.  Since everyone in their brother seems to either be pregnant or just popped one out, I felt like Baby Showers would be a fun thing to discuss.  I like the themed baby showers where the decorations are all book themed or all Winnie the Pooh themed.  While I'm not a huge Winnie the Pooh fan, I recently saw a baby shower with his theme and it was all bumble bees, honey, and bee hives... too cute! 

We'll start with tasty decorated treats!  Who doesn't love seeing a beautifully set up treat table like this?



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I know I do!  So when it comes to cute little treats... "You have me at Hello!" 

I came across these too cute designs of a little birds nest cupcake.  They are from Martha Stewart and would be so cute for a party where you don't know what the sex of the baby is OR if someone is having multiples!  You could put that many birdies on top of each! 

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Or these below are for a Noah's Ark themed party.  How cute right?!? 

And I'm sure they are super easy too! 

Love me some MSL Ideas!

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Or, if you have a lamby theme in mind which is always too cute for showers and for nurseries, then these would be perfecto! And if you notice (look closely) they are sitting inside of a fence!  Love it!

They look so cuddly... not sure if I could even eat them! 

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Then it's time for DECOR!!! Love the easy decorating items that Martha has out there for us!  These poms are available at Michaels!  They they are super easy to make and you honestly don't even need the kit to make them!  They are tissue papers folded like an accordion and trimmed on the end to a curve or point, or however you like.  Then you get a piece of floral wire, wrap it around the middle of the tissue.  Then all you do from there is separate the pieces of paper to create the sphere shape!  Super easy and totally cost effective! 



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Here's a book themed table scape from Martha Stewart. 

I love that she had the moons and stars hanging along with little paper inserts over the table.

Then she uses books as pedestals for the treats on the table!

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Or maybe you just need a little craft project to do...

How about these letters?  While these next two idea does not come straight from Martha Stewart, I'm sure they are on her website somewhere!

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Have everyone who comes to the baby shower paint a letter of the alphabet.  You can get all the same size OR you can get all different sizes and texts and when they are finished you can use them for decor in the nursery.  Then make sure that everyone signs the back to leave a little memento for the bean!    Too stinkin' cute! 

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Maybe you'd like a onesie themed baby shower... where not only do you decorate WITH onesies...

But you decorate them too!  Using puffy paint, fabric paint, and/or iron on decals! 

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I can't believe how cute some of these designs are!!! 



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 And just because I thought it was cute... the New Dad's Fanny Pack!  Help him be as prepared as possible!
Complete with a snack, a prepaid phone card, a camera with extra film, a stopwatch for timing contractions, and a notebook, so he can keep track of important telephone numbers, insurance information, and gifts received at the hospital.

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Happy Monday!

Matilda Jane



What I love about Matilda Jane?

{1} It seems like they are taking over the world!

{2} They are from my hometown Fort Wayne, IN.

{3} They make the cutest kids clothes.

{4} They make clothes for my size too = women!

{5} They sell in trunk show fashion. 

Here are a few of my favorite pieces!

Loving the Larkspur dress!

Loving the price too!  Only $72!

I think I'm loving these Lora Pants too. 

They just look so comfortable!  And their cute too!

Or what about this Teary Bluebird Dress? 

I think I'd wear it as a tunic in the summertime... a bit short for me. 

But I love the colors! 

And lastly... an ultimate fave and must have...

The Pandora Cardigan!

Love the color, the texture, the look!

And that's just for us big girls! 

If you have kids, here are a few sneak peeks at what you can buy for them!!! 

You are sure to fall in love!

*all images via http://www.matildajaneclothing.com/*

**Also be sure to check back Friday for a Fabulous Freebie Giveaway***

--Baby Nursery - Inspiration Uno --

www.No, No... we are not pregnant so don't get any ideas!  But my friend is at work... due any day now.  So, I thought I'd give this nursery planning a shot. 

I used Polyvore to find the items and set them all together.  I think this is cute for a boy!  A little manly with the animal bust from Z Gallerie, we actually already have those curtains from Ikea, and the Pottery Barn rocker is in our deal for having a baby... long story. 

More on Friday at The Kellermeyer Chronicles for that! 

So here was my first shot.  I think the walls would either by a gray blue or an ivory would work too to lighten it up.  What do you think?

Baby K Nursery by babs625 on Polyvore.com

-- DIY Watch Me Grow Stickers --

OK, so I've been drooling over these stickers from Picky Sticky! 

No, I don't have a baby.  But I am going to a baby shower tomorrow!  Yea!  And I saw them used over at Young House Love for their little one to track her growth. 

Well, being the procrastinator that I am, I waited to long to order them and the more I looked at them, the more I thought... I could do that.  Usually when I say this it is followed by a "Yea, Right!"  But not this time.  So I started....

I just used paint on the computer to do it.  Buy Sticker paper to use... or iron on transfer paper... whichever you'd like to do.  Make a circle.  Add a text box.  Add a little design if you want... And Voila!  Here are what I came up with... I did 12 months for my friend and will be giving them to her at the shower and I also threw in on the group gift in case she hates them... But I think they turned out cute! 

For my first time doing it, I think they turned out pretty cute!  And they are actually very affordable to do! 

I had to buy the sticker paper at $9.94 each - needed 2 because they come in sheets of 5 and of course I needed 6.  It's like hot dogs and hot dog buns... this always makes me think of Father of the Bride. 

And the ink of course, but other than that, they were all homemade! :)